Compact vacuum cleaner with storage means



April 1'9, 1966 R. D. J. GRIFFITHS 3,246,359

COMPACT VACUUM CLEANER WITH STORAGE MEANS Filed April 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 5 1 5 Mu,\ 2 In 3 4 6 6 O 4 \IAIL 3 2 2 6 5 1 )L H n 4 5 o 5 m a mw m h I M "W 1 j 5 1 7 7 E 4% r u L v i Q. m on \Vnmrlll// 6 O T 4 3 3 8 4| 4 2 w 2 2 9 2 9 4 c 3 I O 2 RALPH D.

I IZZ 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J ue R. D. J. GRIFFITHS COMPACT VACUUM CLEANER WITH STORAGE MEANS IIO April 19, 1966 Filed April 22, 1965 RALPH April 19, 1966 R. D. J. GRIFFITHS 3,246,359

COMPACT VACUUM CLEANER WITH STORAGE MEANS Filed April 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RALPH D. J. GRIFFITHS BY W a 4 ,qrraen/Ey! United States Patent 3,246,359 COMPACT VACUUM CLEANER WITH STORAGE MEANS This invention relates to compact vacuum cleaners for automobiles and the like.

Although this vacuum cleaner is particularly designed for use in automobiles, it may be used for any other desired purpose, such as cleaning furniture in the home.

The upholstery of automobiles frequently needs thorough cleaning, and-the floor coveringsrin these veh1cles need constant cleaning as the result of sand, stones and other dirt brought into the vehicles by the feet. of those entering them. It is quite difficult thoroughly to clean the floors of most automobiles today since most floors are below the bottoms of the door frames. As a result of this, it is very difiicult to sweep out the dirt, and particularly when there is sand and gravel or small stones on the floor. In actual practice, the only way to get the dirt out properly is by means of a vacuum cleaner. The normal household vacuum cleaners are relatively large and cumbersome, and need to be connected to an outlet of a standard voltage circuit. As a result of this, the average car is thoroughly cleaned out very infrequently, with the resulting wear'in the upholstery and floor coverings.

A compact vacuum cleaner according to the present invention overcomes these difficulties so that a person may frequently clean out his car in short order and with little or no inconvenience. This vacuum cleaner is constructed as a small compact unit including space therein for holding all the necessary attachments without danger of any of them. falling out or being lost. This device takes up very little space in an automobile so that it can be carried at all times. The vacuum cleaner includes a motor capable of running off the electrical system of an automobile, most of which today are 12 volt systems. Large householdand commercial vacuum cleaners are usually capable of picking up sand and gravel from-the floor of a motor vehicle simply because they include such a preponderance of power. The present cleaner includes a very'eflicient blower unit which, although operated by a very small motor, is capable of picking up sand and gravel. For convenience the motor and the blower will be referred-to as a motor-blower unit. The arrangement of the various elements constituting this vacuum cleaner is such that it is quite adequate for the job and yet is very small, light and easy to handle.

Two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1.is a perspective view of one form of vacuum cleaner set up for operation;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2, showing the discharge end of the blower unitof the cleaner;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentaryperspective view. of part of the endof the blower unit shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the bottom or lower section of the cleaner with a suction hose and nozzle stored therein;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal plan view of another embodiment of the invention with the cover or upper section thereof removed;

FIGURE 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal plan view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal fragmentary section taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 13 is a cross section taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 10.

Referring to FIGURES l to 6 of the drawings, 10 is a compact vacuum cleaner including a housing 12 which preferably is formed of an upper or cover section 14 and a lower or bottom section 15. Upper section 14 includes a top 18, side walls 19 and front and rear walls 20 and 21. The lower or bottom section 15 is formed with a bottom 23, side Walls 24 and front and rear walls 25 and 26. The side and end walls of upper section 14 form a peripheral wall having a free edge 29 which engages and fits into a peripheral wall 30 formed by the side, and end walls of lower section 15. Suitable means are provided for removably connecting the upper and lower sections of housing 12 together. In this example, a hook arrangement 32 is provided between end walls 21 and 26, and suitable clamps 33 interconnect the front 'walls 20v and 25. A suitable carrying handle is formed with or connected to the top 18 of upper section 14.

It is preferable to mount all of the working elements of cleaner 10 in either the upper section 14 or lower section 15 thereof. In this example, the working elements are all mounted in or carried by upper section 14. This has the advantage that the elements forming the main part of the weight of the vacuum cleaner are carried by the housing section to which handle 35 is connected.

A closed air chamber 40 is formed in housing 12' inside the front wall 20-25 thereof. Longitudinal walls 42 pro ject downwardly from the top 18 spaced inwardly from side walls 19 of upper section 14 and abut against side walls 44 extending upwardly from bottom 23 and spaced in'wardly from the side walls 24 of lowerv section 15. The inner end of chamber 40 is closed off by relatively thick end walls 46 and 47 extending downwardly and upwardly respectively from top 18 and bottom 23 to meet substantially midway between the top and bottom of housing 12. The joining walls 42-44 at each side of housing 12 and the joining'end Walls 46-47 form a storage channel 50 in the housing extending part way around chamber 40.

An air inlet 54 is formed in front wall 20' of chamber 40. This inlet is preferably surrounded by a sleeve 55 which extends outwardly from the front end of housing 12 and inwardly into the air chamber. The sleeve is adapted to receive the end of a flexible suction hose 57, as shown in FIGURE 1. A suitable suction nozzle 58 is removably secured to the opposite end of this hose.

A suitable air pervious bag 62 is located in chamber 40 and has a neck 63 removably connected to sleeve 55 at inlet 54 in any suitable manner, such as by means of a resilient band 64. This bag may be formed of suitable fabric such as used in many vacuum cleaners, or it may be formed of a suitable paper so that it is disposable.

An air outlet 67 is provided in end Wall 4647' for chamber 40, anda suitable impeller6l is mounted atsaid outlet. The end walls 46 and 47 are formed with an air passage 70 which starts at outlet 67 and flares outwardly therefrom, as clearly shown in FIGURE 2. Impeller 69 is substantially cone-shaped, and has blades 72 radiating.

from its surface, said blades being'sha-ped just to clear the surface of the flared passage 78. Impeller 69 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 74 extending through outlet 67 from an electric motor 75 which is mounted by suitable fastenings 76 on to a ring 77 which, in turn, is secured to end wall 46 by bolts 78. Motor 75 is preferably one that can be run from the electrical circuit of an automobile, for example, a 12 volt motor. In order to increase the efiiciency of the blower unit, a stator 80 is held in position by ring 77 at the small or entrance end of impeller 69, and another stator 82 is mounted in a groove 83 formed in the upper and lower sections housing 14 and to position said stator near the large or discharge end of the impeller. Stator 80 consists of a ring 84 having blades 85 projecting inwardly therefrom, while stator 82 consists of a solid plate 87 having blades 88 radiating from the periphery thereof and connected to a ring 89 which fits into groove 83. Blades 88 are positioned near the outer ends of impeller blades 72. Suitable louvres 92 are formed in rear walls 21-26 of housing 12. Electrical leads 94 extend from motor 72 through upper section 14 and have suitable connectors, not shown, on the outer ends thereof by means of which said leads may be connected to the electrical system of an automobile or the like, such as the socket for a cigarette lighter.

When vacuum cleaner 10 is to be used, it is set up as shown in FIGURE 1. It is very compact and easily carried by means of handle 35. Housing 12 is quite small, the illustrated housing as an example being approximately 12 inches long, 9 inches wide and 4 inches deep. When the cleaner is operating, motor 75 turns impeller 69 to draw air from air chamber 40, causing air to be drawn through inlet 54 and bag62 into said chamber. This creates suction at nozzle 58 at the outer end of hose 57 so that dirt sucked up through the nozzle and hose is left in bag 62. panying stators 80 and 82 make a very eflicient blower which directs air into storage channel 50 from whence it escapes through louvres 92.

7 When the cleaning is done, cover section 14 is lifted off bottom section 15, at which time hose 57 is placed in storage channel 50, as shown in FIGURE 5, and nozzle 58 is placed in chamber 40. When the cover section is returned and secured to the bottom section, cleaner 10 is ready for storage wherever desired, usually within the owners vehicle. With the suction hose and nozzle located within housing 12 when they are not required, there is no danger of either of them being lost when the unit is not in action. This is important since the cleaner would be of very little use without the hose, and it would be easy to lose these elements around an automobile. On the other hand, the vacuum cleaner is instantly available when desired, and a person may clean out his car regardless of whether or not he is near an electrical outlet.

FIGURES 7 to 9 illustrate an alternative form of compact 'vacuum cleaner 110. This unit is similar to cleaner 10, but the operating elements thereof are mounted in the lower section, but they could be mounted in the upper section. Cleaner 110 includes a housing 112 formed of upper and lower sections 114 and 115 removably secured together. An air chamber 118 is formed in the housing by walls which also form a storage channel 120 around said chamber. An air inlet '122'is provided in the front wall of the housing for chamber 118, said inlet being surrounded by a sleeve 123 which is secured to the lower section wall. An air pervious dust bag 125 has a neck 126 removably connected to sleeve 123. A suction hose 128 and a suction nozzle 130 are provided for cleaner 110.

An inner end wall 134 is provided for chamber 118 and extends upward-1y from lower section 115 to the top of upper section 114. This wall has an air outlet 135 therein communicating with a chamber 136 formed within said Impeller 69 with its accom- I wall and in which an impeller 137 is rotatably mounted.

plate 141 which is securedto the outer surface of wall 134 so that the motor is located in an enlargement of channel forming a chamber 142 outside air chamher 118. Plate 141 covers or encloses chamber 136 within said wall.

Impeller 137 comprises spaced plates 145 and 146 with inner and outer sets of vanes 148 and 149 extending therebetween and spaced outwardly from the centres thereof. Each vane 148 is arranged at an angle to a radius of impeller 137, while each vane 149 is arranged at a steeper angle than vane 148 to the radius. Plate 146 may be in the form of substantially a shallow cone, as shown, and it has a large opening 150 formed therein centrally thereof and registering with air outlet 135.

Chamber 136 has two outlets and 156 extending tangentially from the periphery of impeller 137 to ends 158 and 159, respectively, of wall 134. These outlets discharge into storage channel 120, and the air escapes from said channel through louvres 162 formed in the rear wall of housing 112 When not required, hose 128 is stored in channel 120, and nozzle 130 is placed in chamber 118 or 142.

Vacuum cleaner 110 functions in the same manner as cleaner 10. It is compact, light in weight and easy to handle and store. The suction hose and nozzle are kept inside the cleaner housing when they are not required. The housing which is made in upper and lower sections may be quickly and easily opened to remove or replace the suction hose and nozzle and the dust bag.

FIGURES 10 to 13 illustrate yet another alternative form of compact vacuum cleaner 175. This vacuum cleaner includes a housing 178 formed of upper and lower sections 180 and 181, respectively. Upper section 180 is formed with a downwardly-extending peripheral wall 183, while lower section 181 is formed with an upwardly-extending peripheral wall 185. The free edges of walls 183 and 185 abut together when the casing is closed to form an air-tight joint 186 therebetween. Upper section 180 may be opened relative to lower section 181, and in this form in the invention, the peripheral walls 183 and 185 are connected together at the back end of the housing by a hinge 189. At the front end 191 of the casing, peripheral walls 183 and 185 are-formed with semi-circular projections 193 and 194 which, when the casing is closed, combine to form an air inlet 195 for the casing. A tube 198 normally extends through inlet 195 and is removably held in place by longitudinally spaced flanges 199 and 200which abut against the. inner and outer ends of projections 193 and 194, see FIGURES l0 and 11. The external surface of the outer end of tube 198 is formed with coarse threads 202 upon which a nut 203 is threaded. This nut has an annular inner end 204 which, when nut 203 is turned inwardly, overlaps projections 193 and 194 to hold the upper and lower sections of housing 178 in the closed position. When the nut is turned outwardly on its threads, its annular inner end 204 clears projections 193 and 194 so that the housing may be opened.

A suction 'hose 208 has a tubular fitting 209 on its inner end which is adapted to fit into and extend through tube 198, see FIGURE 11. The tubular fitting 209 has a small flange 210 on its inner end which overlaps the inner end of tube 198 removably to hold fitting 209 and hose 208 in position relative to housing 178 when the cleaner is ready for use. An air pervious dust bag214 is removably mounted on the inner end of tube 198 in an air chamber 215 formed by easing sections 180 and 181 when said sections are closed.

An inner housing 218 is located in outer housing 178 and is shaped to fit into lower section 181 behind air chamber 215. This housing is removably mounted in section 181, and is shaped to fit beneath a large recess 220 in the top of section 181, said recess being bridged by a handle 221', by means of which cleaner 175 may be carried. Housing 218 has a U-shaped trough 224 formed in its outer surface for holding hose 288 when the latter is not required.

Inner housing 218 has air inlets 226 and 227 formed therein which are in communication with air chamber 215.

An impeller 230 is mounted within a curved wall 231 at the bottom of housing 218, said impeller being covered by a plate 232 which is removably secured on the upper edge of wall 231 and spaced immediately above the impeller. This plate has a hole 233 formed therein centrally thereof. Impeller 230 consists of a backing plate 235 having a hub 236 substantially in the form of a truncated cone which projects up into plate hole 233. This hub is fixedly secured to the shaft 237 of an electric motor 238 which is mounted on plate 232. Backing plate 235 of the immller has two annular rows of blades 241 and 242 on and projecting upwardly from its upper surface, see FIGURE 12. These blades are similar to blades 148 and 149 of impeller 137 of cleaner 110.

Impeller 230 operates in a chamber 245 formed by wall 231 beneath plate 232. This chamber has an outlet 246 formed in annular wall 185 at the back end 188 of housing 178.

Vacuum cleaner 1'75 functions in the same manner as cleaners 10 and 118. FIGURE 10 shows cleaner 175 set up for operation. The tubular fitting 209 of hose 208 is in position within tube 198, and nut 203 is holding upper and lower casing sections 180 and 181 in their closed position. An electrical receptacle is provided in the lower section 181 and opens out through the back end 188 of peripheral wall 185. Motor 238 is electrically connected to this receptacle so that the motor may be connected to a suitable electrical power source by means of an extension cable, not shown.

When motor 238 is energized, impeller 230 rotates at high speed drawing air into chamber 245 from air chamber 215 through inlets 226 and 227 of inner casing 218, through said inner casing and hole 233 of plate 232. This, in turn, sucks air through hose 208 into and through bag 214, where the dirt is collected. Hose 208 is provided with a suitable suction nozzle, not shown, at its outer end.

When this vacuum cleaner is no longer needed, nut 203 is backed oil? to permit upper section 189 to be swung away from lower section 181. Hose 208 is then placed in trough 204 in the outer surface of inner housing 218.v The suction nozzle and any other fittings may be placed in chamber 215. When desired, bag 214 is replaced. After this, housing 178 is closed and locked by means of nut 203, and cleaner 175 may be carried by means of handle 221. Housing 178 is very compact, and it will be noted that handle 221 does not project above the upper surface thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A compact vacuum cleaner for automobiles and the like, comprising an inclosed housing formed with a pcripheral wall and having a closed air chamber therein, an air inlet in a wall of the housing communicating with the air chamber, said air chamber adapted to receive an air pervious dust bag formed with a neck removably connectable to said inlet, an outlet from the chamber, a blower having an impeller at said outlet for moving air from the chamber through the outlet, a motor mounted in the said housing and operatively connected to the blower, said motor being substantially horizontally aligned with the portion of the said chamber adapted to receive the dust bag, said motor and blower forming a motor-blower unit located within said housing, a storage channel of substantially U configuration in plan in the housing, said channel having sections extending along opposite sides of said peripheral wall of the housing and an interconnecting section extending across the housing, one side of said channel being formed by a wall spaced from said peripheral wall of said housing, said spaced channel wall also partially surrounding the said motor-blower unit.

2. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing is formed in upper and lower sections removably connected together, and the motorblower unit is mounted on said upper section.

3. A compact vacuum cleaner for automobiles and the like, comprising an enclosed housing formed by upper and lower sections removably connected together and having a closed air chamber therein and an end with an air inlet therein, said upper and lower sections having walls that form a peripheral wall for the housing, a carrying handle secured to the upper section, said air chamber adapted to receive an air pervious dust bag formed with a neck removably connectable to said inlet, an outlet from the chamber, a blower at said outlet for moving air from the chamber through the outlet, a motor mounted in the housing and operatively connected to the blower, said motor being substantially horizontally aligned with the portion of the said air chamber adapted to receive the dust bag, said motor and blower forming a motor-blower unit located within said housing, a storage channel of substantially U configuration in plan in the housing, said channel having sections extending along opposite sides of said peripheral wall of the housing and an interconnecting section extending across the housing, said channel adapted to receive a flexible hose, one side of said channel being formed by a wall spaced from said peripheral wall of said housing, said spaced channel wall also partially surrounding the said motor-blower unit.

4. A compact vacuum cleaner for automobiles and the like, comprising an enclosed housing formed with a peripheral wall and having a closed air chamber therein, an air inlet in a wall of the housing communicating with the air chamber, and air chamber adapted to receive an air pervious dust bag formed with a neck removably connectable to said inlet, an outlet for the chamber, a motor mounted in the housing and having a shaft extending into said outlet, a blower having an impeller mounted on said shaft at the outlet for moving air from the chamber through said outlet, said motor being substantially horizontally aligned with the portion of the said air chamber adapted to receive the dust bag, said motor and blower forming a motor-blower unit located within said housing, a storage channel of substantially U configuration in plan in the housing and extending in plan, part way around the motor-blower unit, one side of said channel being formed by a wall spaced from said peripheral wall of said housing, said spaced channel wall also partially surrounding the said motor-blower unit.

5. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said air chamber is constructed to receive a suction nozzle adapted to be removably connected to an end of the hose for storage of the said nozzle when it is not in use.

6. A compact vacuum cleaner for automobiles and the like, comprising an enclosed housing having side walls and an end with an air inlet therein, a separating wall in the housing spaced away from both the inlet and the side walls thereof to form a closed air chamber, said air chamber adapted to receive an air pervious dust bag formed with a neck removably connectable to the inlet, an outlet in said separating wall, a motor-blower unit mounted on said separating wall and having an impeller mounted at the outlet for moving air from the chamber through said outlet, a storage channel of substantially U configuration in plan in the housing extending part way around the chamber, one side of said channel being formed by said separating wall.

7. A compact vacuum clean for automobiles and the like, comprising an enclosed housing having a top, bottom, side walls and end walls, an air inlet in one end wall centrally thereof, an air chamber lormed in the housing by chamber side walls spaced from the housing side walls and extending inwardly from said one end wall to a cross wall spaced from the opposite housing end wall, said housing walls and said chamber side walls and cross wall forming a storage channel therebetween, an outlet formed in the cross wall, said chamber adapted to receive an air pervious dust bag formed with a neck removably connectable to said inlet, a motor-blower unit mounted in the housing on the cross wall and having an impeller at said outlet to move air therethrough from the chamber.

8. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6 in which the housing is formed in upper and lower sections removably connected together, and the motor-blower unit is mounted on said upper section.

9. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6 in which the housing is formed in upper and lower sections removably connected together, and the motor-blower unit is on said lower section.

10. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the said motor having a shaft extending from the motor to the said outlet, said blower comprising a cone-shaped impeller mounted on said shaft and having a small end facing the chamber, and a large end facing away therefrom, blades radiating from the impeller, and stators at the small and large ends of the impeller.

11. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which a shaft extends from the motor through the said outlet, and the blower'comprises an impeller mounted on said shaft and in communication with said outlet, said impeller including spaced plates with inner and outer.

annular sets of vanes extending therebetween and spaced outwardly from the centers thereof, each blade of the inner set being arranged at an angle to a radius of the impeller and each blade of the outer set being arranged at a steeper angle to said radius.

12. A compact vacuum cleaner for automobiles and the like, comprising an enclosed housing having an air chamber and an end with an air inlet therein, a separating wall in the air chamber spaced away from the inlet to form a filter chamber on one side thereof and a motor chamber on its opposite side, said filter chamber and said motor chamber being substantially horizontally aligned, said filter chamber adapted to receive an air pervous dust bag having an entrance removably connectable to the inlet, an opening in said separating wall, a motor mounted in the motor chamber, a blower in the motor chamber operatively connected to the motor for drawing air from the filter chamber into the motor chamber, an air outlet in the housing from the motor chamber, a storage channel of substantially U configuration in plan in the housing said channel formed by the said separating wall.

13. A compact vacuum cleaner for automobiles and the like, comprising an outer housing having an end with an air inlet therein, an inner housing in said outer housing spaced from said inlet end to form a filter chamber therebetween, said inner housing having an air opening therein, said filter chamber being adapted to receive an air configuration in plan formed on the inner housing so that the walls of the said channel are formed by the said inner housing.

14. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 including a flexible suction hose adapted to fit in said channel when not required and having an end adapted to be connected to the air inlet outside the housing.

15. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 including a small suction nozzle adapted 'to be removably connected to an end of the hose, said nozzle being small enough to fit in the air chamber when not required.

16. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6 including a flexible suction hose adapted to fit in said channel when not required and having an end adapted to be connected to the air inlet outside the housing.

17. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12 wherein the blower includes an impeller operatively connected to the motor, and including a wall enclosing the impeller and having an opening therein centrally of the impeller, and the said air outlet in the housing communicates with the impeller.

18..A compact vacuum cleaner for automobiles and the like, comprising an outer housing having a base portion and a cover portion removably mounted on the base portion, said outer housing having an end with an air inlet therein, an inner housing wall mounted on said base portion within the outer housing spaced from said inlet end and separating the base portion into a filter chamber in communication with the inlet and a motor chamber, said inner housing wall having an air opening therein, an air pervious dust bag in said filter chamber and having an entrance removably connectable to the inlet, a motor mounted in the motor chamber, an impeller in the motor chamber operatively connected to the motor, a wall within the motor chamber enclosing the impeller and having an opening therein centrally of the impeller, an outlet in the outer housing and communicating' with the impeller, a storage channel of substantially U configuration in plan formed in the inner housing wall, a flexible hose adapted to fit in said channel when not required and having an end adapted to be connected to the air inlet'outside the housing.

19. A compact vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13 wherein said storage channel is formed as an indentation in the inner housing wall and opens into the filter chamber and has a leg thereof extending along each side of the motor chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,766,844 10/1956 Humphrey 15-347 X 2,960,713 11/1960 Wistrand 15344 2,975,460 3/1961 Sundberg 15323 3,089,177 5/1963 Andersson-Sason 15-323 3,090,181 5/1963 Korrell et al. 3,132,932 5/1964 Pauler et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 61,996 3/1944 Denmark. 669,893 4/ 1952 Great Britain.

. OTHER REFERENCES Hoovers New Portable pages 34, '35 and 37 of Appliance Manufacturer October 1962.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner. 

12. A COMPACT VACUUM CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING AN ENCLOSED HOUSING HAVING AN AIR CHAMBER AND AN END WITH AN AIR INLET THEREIN, A SEPARATING WALL IN THE AIR CHAMBER SPACED AWAY FROM THE INLET TO FORM A FILTER CHAMBER ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND A MOTOR CHAMBER ON ITS OPPOSITE SIDE, SAID FILTER CHAMBER AND SAID MOTOR CHAMBER BEING SUBSTA%NTIALLY HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED, SAID FILTER CHAMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN AIR PERVOUS DUST BAG HAVING ANI ENTRANCE REMOVABLY CONNECTABLE TO THE INLET, AN OPENING IN SAID SEPARATING WALL, A MOTOR MOUNTED IN THE MOTOR CHAMBER, A BLOWER IN THE MOTOR CHAMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR FOR DRAWING AIR FROM THE FILTER CHAMBER INTO THE MOTOR CHAMBER, AN AIR OUTLET IN THE HOUSING FROM THE MOTOR CHAMBER, A STORAGE CHANNEL OF SUBSTANTIALLY U CONFIGURATION IN PLAN IN THE HOUSING SAID CHANNEL FORMED BY THE SAID SEPARATING WALL. 